Parts of a Guitar Bridge – Saddle, Pins, Screws, Springs

All 12 parts on the diagram

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Acoustic bridge 4

Bridge A wooden block glued to the top. The strings end here.
Saddle The strip the strings rest on, set into the bridge.
Bridge pins Each pin wedges the ball end of a string in its hole.
Ball end The small metal ring wound onto the end of a steel string.

Electric tremolo bridge 8

Baseplate The metal plate the saddles sit on. It rocks on six screws.
Pivot screws Six screws at the front edge. The bridge pivots on them.
Saddles One small block for each string to rest on.
Height screws Two small screws in each saddle that raise or lower it.
Intonation screws Each moves one saddle back or forward to set the string length.
Tremolo arm Pushing it tilts the whole bridge and bends the pitch.
Sustain block A metal block fixed under the baseplate. The strings pass through it.
Springs They pull the block one way while the strings pull the other.

How this list was compiled: Every name checked on 2026-09-30, a name kept only where two independent sources use it for this part. (1) Wikipedia, text only: Bridge (instrument) (bridge, saddle, bridge pins, the bridge glued to the top of a flat-top guitar, intonation screws on electric guitars, springs), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_(instrument) ; Vibrato systems for guitar (the synchronized tremolo: the plate that pivots on six screws, six bridge saddles adjustable for height and intonation, the block fixed to the base plate, the springs that counter the pull of the strings, the tremolo arm), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibrato_systems_for_guitar ; Guitar (saddle, bridge), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar . (2) Larry Sandberg, The Acoustic Guitar Guide (1991), searched in full text at https://archive.org/details/acousticguitargu0000sand (bridge, saddle, bridge pin, the ball ends of the strings, the bridge plate under the top). (3) Ralph Denyer, The Guitar Handbook (1982), searched in full text at https://archive.org/details/guitarhandbook0000deny_k9a4 (fixed bridge and bridge pins, bridge pin holes, ball-ends, saddles, height adjustment screws, bridge plate, tremolo arm). (4) Dave Burrluck, The Player's Guide to Guitar Maintenance (1998), searched in full text at https://archive.org/details/playersguidetogu0000dave (baseplate or bridge plate, six pivot screws, saddles, intonation screw, saddle height, sustain block or inertia block, springs and their claw, vibrato arm, ball-end). (5) Hugo Pinksterboer, Tipbook Electric Guitar and Bass Guitar (2002), searched in full text at https://archive.org/details/tipbookelectricg0000pink (saddles, height adjustment and intonation adjustment, the base plate of a tremolo bridge, tremolo springs, the trem block, tremolo arm, ball end). Licence: own work

The drawing: Drawn for this site on 2026-09-30 from plain geometry; no maker's bridge, nothing traced. Licence: own work

How it works

The bridge holds the body end of every string. An acoustic bridge is a wooden block with one saddle and six pins. An electric bridge is a metal plate with a saddle and screws for each string.

Read the full guide

Three views, two bridges

Numbers 1 to 4 are an acoustic bridge: bridge, saddle, bridge pins and the ball end of a string. Numbers 5 to 10 are an electric tremolo bridge from above: baseplate, pivot screws, saddles, height screws, intonation screws and tremolo arm. Numbers 11 and 12 are under it: the sustain block and the springs.

What the screws are for

Height screws raise or lower a saddle, which sets how high the string sits above the frets. An intonation screw moves a saddle back or forward, which changes the length of string that vibrates.

Not every electric bridge moves. A fixed bridge has saddles and screws but no block, springs or arm.

Questions and answers

What holds the strings on an acoustic guitar bridge?

Bridge pins. Each steel string has a ball end that goes down a hole in the bridge, and a tapered pin pushed in beside it holds the ball end under the top.

What does the saddle on a guitar bridge do?

The strings rest on it. It is where the vibrating part of each string ends, and on an acoustic guitar it carries the vibration through the bridge into the top.

What do the springs on an electric guitar bridge do?

On a tremolo bridge, springs in the back of the body pull on the block under the bridge. They balance the pull of the strings and set where the bridge rests.

How is intonation adjusted at the bridge?

By turning the intonation screw behind a saddle. It moves the saddle toward or away from the neck, which shortens or lengthens the vibrating string.